An Edmonton woman said she was stunned when she was told to cover up while wearing a sports bra during a workout at a city-run recreation centre.
Coral Wiebe told CTV Edmonton that she was working out at The Meadows Community Recreation Centre one day last month when a staff member approached to tell her to cover up her sports bra.
Wiebe said she was told, “it was not OK, was inappropriate, wasn’t acceptable in any Edmonton facility.
“So I got very confused, and then I got angry,” Wiebe said. “I said, ‘You can’t go up to women and just start shaming them.’”
Wiebe, who says she’s been wearing the same type of attire to the gym for “probably 15, 20 years,” contacted the city of Edmonton by calling 311. A spokesperson confirmed that the employee was following city policy.
On the city’s website, the only policy guideline relating to clothing states: “Clean, dry, safe and appropriate apparel must be worn at all times in the fitness centre.”
Edmonton officials say attire that leaves the midriff exposed is not considered appropriate.
Brad Badger, director of programs and events for the city of Edmonton, says the guidelines are “more of a broad statement. There’s such a suite of examples that it could bring, it’s hard to get every example.”
The city of Edmonton also says it gets complaints every week from people uncomfortable with others’ workout clothes.
One gym-goer told CTV Edmonton that she could “see why some people might complain, but I also think that (Wiebe) should be allowed to wear that if she wants.”
The city says the policy is under review. But even an image that was on the city’s recreation centre webpage depicts a woman in a sports bra.
“Obviously, we’ll have to make sure our image is aligned to our guidelines,” Badger said.
With files from CTV Edmonton’s Dan Grummett
